10 myths about children's health

Dr. Allan Greissman of Pediatric Critical Care of South Florida dispels some common misconceptions parents may have about their children’s health.

1. Kids in day care get sick more oftenWhile it may seem that kids in daycare get sick more often, exposure from other children to common viruses help a child develop natural antibodies, thereby boosting their immune system. Besides stimulating their immune system, daycare is a great way for children to gain social skills and cognitive development.

2. All children with fever require antibioticsThe overuse of antibiotics has caused significant bacterial resistance to common antibiotics, creating stronger bacteria that are harder to treat. Antibiotics can also cause stomachaches and diarrhea and should only be used when a physician has a strong clinical suspicion of a bacterial illness.

3. It’s OK for babies to be chubbyThe extreme rise in childhood obesity can be linked to overfeeding in infancy and childhood. Giving an infant a bottle may stop the crying, but it will also lead to extra weight and long-term consequences such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. A baby who is fussy is not always hungry.

4. A baby should never be left to cry. Babies cry for many reasons – hunger, a dirty diaper, an uncomfortable position, etc. And many babies wake up, cry and then fall back asleep. Picking up a baby every time he cries reinforces the idea that crying gets immediate attention. It is OK to let a baby cry for a short amount of time to see if he falls back to sleep on his own.

5. It is OK to have a baby sleep in bed with a parentThere have been many tragic deaths related to infants being smothered by their parent who, while in a deep sleep, roll over and accidentally smother their child. An infant should never sleep in a bed with an adult or where pillows or blankets could cover their faces.

6. Feed a cold, starve a feverSick children, whether feverish or sniffling, need nutrients. If they don’t want solid food, make sure they get plenty of soup, juice and other healthful liquids.

7. If a baby has diarrhea or vomiting, the mother should stop breast-feedingThe best medicine for a baby’s stomach infection is breast-feeding. Stop other foods for a short time, but continue breast-feeding. Breast milk is the only fluid your baby requires when he has diarrhea and/or vomiting, except under exceptional circumstances. Should the diarrhea get worse, your pediatrician may have you switch to an electrolyte solution such as Pedialyte.

8. Teething causes fever, diarrhea and runny noseTeething may cause drooling and fussiness, but it’s not the culprit for everything. Slight fevers? Perhaps. But anything above 101 degrees Fahrenheit is a sign of a bacterial or viral infection, not teething. As far as diarrhea goes, there have been no studies to support that teething is the cause. If your baby seems to be abnormally runny, it’s more likely there’s some type of infection or lack of solid foods. Runny noses are also a falsely rumored result of teething. The stress of a new tooth may at times compromise a baby’s immune system, which may make a cold or ear infection more likely and, hence, a runny nose.

9. Exposure to cold weather causes colds You cannot “catch a cold” from wet hair or by going outside without a coat on. You may shiver and feel uncomfortable, but you won't catch a virus that way. When kids and families stay indoors, they're more apt to spread germs from one person to another by coughing and sneezing on one another than if they were outside playing and exploring the outdoors.

10. All children with wheezing and fever should get a course of antibioticsBacterial infections are a rare cause of wheezing or asthma. Fever is typically due to viruses that trigger wheezing, or congestion in the lung known as “Atelectasis.” Neither of these are indicators for antibiotic use. Unless there is a strong indication, antibiotics play no role in the treatment of wheezing. Pediatric Critical Care of South Florida is a group of leading pediatric intensivists and hospitalists who are board-certified and fellowship-trained in pediatrics and pediatric critical care medicine. They currently operate the pediatric critical care unit at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood. For more information, visit www.pccsf.com or call 954-454-5131.